The Trump administration has taken a dramatic turn on gun rights, signaling a full-on authoritarian takeover of the US government.
The president's recent remarks have made it clear that federal agents can shoot and kill legal gun owners who approach them with a firearm. This doctrine, championed by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, is an unprecedented shift in policy that flies in the face of Trump's campaign promises on Second Amendment issues.
In reality, Trump has quietly supported more gun safety measures than he admits, including banning bump-fire stocks and signing a rule restricting untraceable "ghost guns." However, his administration has increasingly deployed federal forces into jurisdictions with strict gun-control laws, using federal authority to lean into those regulations despite promising to protect gun owners from government overreach.
Gun rights groups have been vocal in their criticism of this new paradigm, arguing that it risks transforming routine encounters with public safety officials into moments of terror for lawful gun owners. The National Rifle Association and other pro-gun organizations have distanced themselves from the White House line, while leaders like Dana Loesch and Rick Hodsdon have condemned Essayli's remarks as "dangerous and wrong."
The shift in policy is part of a broader authoritarian takeover of the US government under Trump. Court orders are being ignored, MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies, and news outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation.
As The Intercept continues to fight back against this assault on democracy, we need your help to expand our reporting capacity and hit the ground running in 2026. Will you support our efforts to hold those in power accountable and protect the free press?
The president's recent remarks have made it clear that federal agents can shoot and kill legal gun owners who approach them with a firearm. This doctrine, championed by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, is an unprecedented shift in policy that flies in the face of Trump's campaign promises on Second Amendment issues.
In reality, Trump has quietly supported more gun safety measures than he admits, including banning bump-fire stocks and signing a rule restricting untraceable "ghost guns." However, his administration has increasingly deployed federal forces into jurisdictions with strict gun-control laws, using federal authority to lean into those regulations despite promising to protect gun owners from government overreach.
Gun rights groups have been vocal in their criticism of this new paradigm, arguing that it risks transforming routine encounters with public safety officials into moments of terror for lawful gun owners. The National Rifle Association and other pro-gun organizations have distanced themselves from the White House line, while leaders like Dana Loesch and Rick Hodsdon have condemned Essayli's remarks as "dangerous and wrong."
The shift in policy is part of a broader authoritarian takeover of the US government under Trump. Court orders are being ignored, MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies, and news outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation.
As The Intercept continues to fight back against this assault on democracy, we need your help to expand our reporting capacity and hit the ground running in 2026. Will you support our efforts to hold those in power accountable and protect the free press?
really? Trump's been secretly supporting gun safety measures all along 
meanwhile he's out here making headlines about how federal agents can just shoot up anyone who dares to approach them with a gun... that sounds super reasonable 
. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with his administration trying to flex its authority over the states 
. On the bright side, it's great that gun rights groups are speaking out and not just blindly following the White House narrative 
. Maybe we'll get lucky and this whole "authoritarian takeover" thing will be just a wild conspiracy theory 
.
He's basically saying that if you try to stand up for your rights as a gun owner, the government will come after you 
And it's not like he's being consistent - he's been hiding behind his gun rights rhetoric all along 
But this isn't the way to do it - if you're going to restrict guns, at least have the decency to explain why and be honest about your intentions 
And what about the constitution? I mean, isn't there some law or something that says all Americans are entitled to bear arms in self-defense 
?
this is getting crazy! Interesting how Trump's words don't match his actions anymore. I feel so uneasy about what's happening with gun laws, it's like he's playing with people's lives 
. Need to stay informed about this situation 
.
. I mean, I knew he was gonna be a wild card but this is just insane! The whole "shoot first, ask questions later" vibe is straight outta dystopian novel territory 
.
. Can't just sit back and let Trump's admin run wild without pushing back 
.
Dude, I don't even know where to start with this Trump admin thing. They're just going all out on gun rights like there's no tomorrow, and it's crazy! 
. Can we really trust our government right now? I guess only time will tell, but one thing's for sure - this whole situation is super sketchy 
. Those gun rights groups are totally right – it's just too much of a risk for innocent people. And what about the press? It's like they're trying to silence anyone who speaks out against him 
. It's like he's trying to turn the US into some sort of dystopian surveillance state 
. It seems like the government is taking a super aggressive approach towards people who own guns legally, and it's just not right 
. I mean, Trump has been pretty quiet on this issue before, so this sudden change in policy feels really suspicious 
. And what's up with federal agents being allowed to shoot and kill gun owners? That's just crazy talk! 